Confessions of a Western Wino: California Gold: Griffith Observatory

Griffith Observatory

So many people here already, I thought to myself. Obviously a popular spot.

I had brought the family up to the observatory a few weeks earlier in the early afternoon on a Sunday. At that time the street leading up to the parking lot was already lined with overflow traffic. This time I figured to arrive well-early on a Sunday, just me and little Fankie. We were driving through Griffith Park by 7:30am. The sky was a cloudless blue. The sun was beaming.

Hollywood sign

So far it had been easy-breezy driving north along the 110 and into the area of LA known as Los Feliz. As we drove up the incline into the hills again (There’s the Hollywood sign!) approaching the observatory I was impressed to see the parking lot full and the first few trickles of overflow parking already clogging up the side of the entryway.

Not so surprised because this is Los Angeles and there are people everywhere at seemingly any time of day, any day of the week, out doing stuff. Good for them.

Looking down on the

walking trails below.

I parked and carried Frankie along the sidewalk towards the Griffith Observatory. A well-maintained walkway leading further up into the hills overlooking LA was peopled with hikers and explorers. Around the observatory were a few families and sight-seers taking in the breathtaking views of the LA basin. Downtown is off to the east. Hollywood below us. Century City to the west. And there’s the Pacific way out in the distance. Such a beautiful city. It’s so spread out there are very few ways to take it all in at once. This is one of those feeble attempts to make a personal connection with LA in toto – standing in a legendary place, overlooking a gorgeous city, brushing shoulders with the ghosts of Old Hollywood, feeling at one with Southern California.

James Dean bust

I saw Rebel Without a Cause when I was a college film geek. I loved it. James Dean was one of the biggest Coulda-beens ever. There was a famous scene filmed at the observatory with the lovely Natalie Wood that will forever remain a part of Hollywood legend due partly to the fact that Dean would be dead not long after the film was completed. Not far from the entrance to the observatory today, with the Hollywood sign in the distance just beyond, stands a bust of the iconic actor.

The observatory opened in 1935 and sits on the south-facing slope of Mount Hollywood itself. There is no entrance fee save for some of their special showing events. Hours on Tuesday to Friday are 12:00 Noon - 10:00 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday they open from 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. Evenings are obviously the best times to visit so as to get glimpses of planets and constellations via the telescopes, but such a grand location with free admission will draw crowds so make your arrival plans accordingly.

Frankie waits at Alcove Cafe

After our visit, I decided to take Frankie into Los Feliz for some breakfast. The pleasant village on a Sunday morning presents several good options for breakfast or brunch. My choice for this particular day was the highly rated Alcove Café. The front deck of the restaurant is awash with umbrella-shaded seating and garden ambiance. Inside could be heard the sounds of fresh coffee being ground. The special of the day is a breakfast tortilla but I ordered what they call a Warrior’s Breakfast – grilled chicken, egg s, veggies, and rice. Frankie and I refueled from our long walk, relaxed in the shade of our patio umbrella, and savored another beautiful morning in SoCal.